We are proud to announce our 2023 Sky Grant recipients. The process to achieve these awards is rigorous. The applications submitted for this cycle nearly doubled. Our esteemed Sky Scientific Advisory Committee  makes the final recommendations to the Sky Governing Board for approval.

The following are three $50,000 grant recipients for 2023 

POSTDOCTORAL/NON-TENURE TRACK CATEGORY:

Despoina Kalfakakou, PhD | New York University Langone Health

Research Title: Therapeutic impact of clonal heterogeneity of human pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Lisa Miller-Phillips, MD | University of California San Francisco

Research Title: Histological and transcriptional characterization of organotropism in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) with focus on the “Lung Only” metastatic variant

PRE-TENURED CATEGORY:

Nina Steele, PhD | Henry Ford Health

Research Title: Immune suppression and racial disparities in pancreatic cancer progression

SKY’S MISSION

Sky Foundation awards seed-money grants to scientists and clinicians from coast to coast who are pursuing research of great promise in the areas of early detection, prevention or treatment of pancreatic cancer. This start-up funding helps researchers get to the point in their work where they can successfully attract financial support from the National Institutes of Health and other national funding sources, and ultimately, be able to make a positive impact on the outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients.

Since its inception, Sky Foundation has funded over one million dollars in seed fund grants. Every year our researchers update us on the progress and their hope for the future.

SKY’S IMPACT FIGHTING PANCREATIC CANCER

“We are all so indebted for the work done by SKY Foundation in the last decade. I have been a beneficiary of SKY Foundation seed funds. I was supported by Sheila during the time when I was establishing my laboratory. I owe a lot of my success to Sheila and SKY Foundation. These seed funds allowed the generation of critical preliminary data and helped my research team secure more than $2.4 million in federal grants. The help from SKY foundation is integral to the success of the research.” – Asfar Sohail Azmi, PhD

“The support of the Sky Foundation has been fundamental because it provided the financial resources to carry out our studies. Most importantly, our focus and efforts were inspired by the unwavering dedication and commitment of Sheila Kasselman, who we truly admired for her relentless fight against pancreatic cancer. Sheila was the driving force behind our science and our mission to make a difference as she did, and for this she will live forever in our hearts.” –  Rafael Fridman, PhD

“My team and I are extremely grateful for Sky Foundation to fund this promising study, which allowed us to use state-of-the-art technologies to discover these novel findings, the fundamentals for making substantial progress in pancreatic cancer research.” – Simone Benitz, PhD

“We are extremely grateful for the support of Sky Foundation. Sky Foundation’s support of a postdoctoral fellow allowed us to do these studies, which will inform future pre-clinical studies and clinical trials. We look forward to continued partnership with the foundation to advance discoveries in the laboratory to help patients.” – Ben Z. Stanger, MD, PhD

The future to eradicate pancreatic cancer is promising and hopeful. These experts are conducting innovative research to increase the survival rate of pancreatic cancer from 12% to, one day, 100%. We are making a difference because of your generous donations. Thank you for your support. Let’s continue to invest in the future.

A Runner Turned Triathlete & Cancer Awareness Advocate

Shannon Crone has been competing in marathons since 2004 and IRONMAN events since 2014. Mike, her husband, was her greatest cheerleader, supporting her at every step leading up to, and on race day. In the summer of 2019, in a matter of 3 weeks, she lost Mike to pancreatic cancer.

Our dedicated Sky Foundation President trained tirelessly for the World Championship IRONMAN in October 2023. She journaled her progress, and raised funds for Sky Foundation in Mike’s memory. We support her strength and efforts in this mentally and physically challenging, yet rewarding, venture.

We encourage you to read about Sky’s inspiring President and her amazing ride, raising over $20K for pancreatic cancer research and awareness!  Click here to follow her blog and donate to her efforts.

Genetic testing is essential for assessing inherited risks of diseases like Pancreatic Cancer. It is important to understand one’s ancestry to make informed medical decisions. It identifies potential health issues and enables you to proactively take measures or early intervention and allows for a more targeted healthcare approach.

Michigan Genetic Testing Sites

Ann Arbor

U of M Cancer Genetics Clinic 

University of Michigan Cancer Center
Cancer and Geriatrics Center
1500 E. Medical Center Dr.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0638
734.763.2532

Elena Stoffel, MD, MPH

Cancer Genetics Program Cancer Center

Trinity Health (Previously known as Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital)
5303 Elliott Dr.

Ypsilanti, MI 48197

734.712.1541

Sommer Hayden, MS, CGC

Linsey Blakely, MS, CGC

Kelsie McVeety, MS, CGC

Dearborn

Genetic Risk Assessment For Cancer

Corewell Health East (formerly Beaumont Hospital Dearborn)

18181 Oakwood Blvd, Suite 102G
Dearborn, MI 48124
313.593.8483

Julie Zenger-Hain, PhD, FACMG
Lauren Jackson, MS, CGC
Katelyn Roberts, MS, CGC-PHP

Nicholas Serocki, MS, CGC

Angelina Sdao, MS, CGC

Detroit

Cancer Genetic Counseling Service

Karmanos Cancer Institute
4100 John R, Suite 312, Mailcode: HPO3GC
Detroit, MI 48201
313.576.8748

Michael S. Simon, MD, MPH

Nancie Petrucelli, MS, CGC

Kristian Wilks, MS CGC

Courtney Kokanakes, MS, CGC

Ashley Cosenza, MS, CGC

Henry Ford Health System Cancer Genetics Program

Henry Ford Health System Medical Genetics Department
3031 West Grand Blvd., Suite 700
Detroit, MI 48202
313.916.3188

Jacquelyn Roberson, MD

Farmington Hills

Cancer Genetic Counseling Service

Karmanos Cancer Institute
31995 Northwestern Highway
Farmington Hills, MI 48334
313.576.8748

 Kristian Wilks, MS, CGC

Grosse Pointe Woods

Cancer Genetics Program – Van Elslander Cancer Center

Ascension St. John Health System

19229 Mack Ave, Suite 18
Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236
313.647.3153

Allison Jay, MD, FACMG

Livonia

Cancer Genetic Counseling

Trinity Health Livonia (formerly St. Mary Mercy Livonia Hospital)

36475 Five Mile Road
Livonia, MI 48154
(734) 655-1185

Helen Burns, ANP, MSN, AGN-BC

Pontiac

Cancer Genetic Counseling

St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital, Alice Gustafson Center

44405 Woodward Avenue, Suite 202
Pontiac, MI 48341
(248) 858-2270

Suzanne Jermstad, NP

Tyler Prince, MS, GC

Royal Oak

Corewell Health – Cancer Genetics Program

(Formerly Beaumont Health – Cancer Genetics Program)

3577 W. 13 Mile Rd., Suite 140
Royal Oak, MI 48073
248.551.3388

Dana Zakalik, MD

Alexis Gallant, GC

Aidan Kennedy, GC

Jordan Johnson, GC

Tonya Bortz, GC

Southfield

Ascension Providence Cancer Institute

22301 Foster Winter Drive, Third Floor
Southfield, MI 48075
248.849.3281

Samira Ahsan, MD 

Troy

Corewell Health – Cancer Genetics Program

(Formerly Beaumont Health – Cancer Genetics Program)

44344 Dequindre Rd., Suite 350
Sterling Heights, MI 48314
248.551.3388

Dana Zakalik, MD
Richard Zekman, DO
Kristina Ivan, MS, CGC

West Bloomfield

Henry Ford Health System Cancer Genetics Program

Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital
6777 West Maple Rd.
West Bloomfield, MI 48322
313.916.3188

Jacquelyn Roberson, MD

Additional resources on the importance of genetic counseling, testing, support, and locations nationwide, please contact My Faulty Gene.

Submit A Matching Gift with Your company

Matching gifts are a type of corporate giving program that double an employee’s initial donation to an eligible nonprofit organization.

The Best Part?  You can make TWO donations for the price of ONE.

Make sure you write down the following since you will need it when submitting your donation to your employer:

1. Tax ID: 26-2720583
2. Sky Foundation’s Address: 33 Bloomfield Hills Parkway, Suite 275 | Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304

Matching Gift and Volunteer Grant information provided by

Contact Person for Matching Gifts at Sky Foundation:

Annie Dalton, ADalton@SkyFoundationInc.org, 248-385-5143

Visit this page for frequently asked questions.

AMAZON SMILE

The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from customers’ eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the charitable organizations they select.

Here’s to sign up for AmazonSmile:

1. Visit amazon.com
2. 2. Click on the “Get Started” button and sign in with your Amazon.com credentials
3. Search for “Sky Foundation Inc.”
4. Select “Sky Foundation Inc.”
5. Start shopping!
6. Every time you return to amazon, make sure to type in SMILE.AMAZON.COM in your browser and start your shopping at AmazonSmile.

Sky Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Committee has awarded three research projects in 2021 with a $50,000 seed grants to each.

Learn more abut our three new researchers by clicking on their information below:

Ben Stenger, MD, PhD (Professor of Medicine and Cell and Developmental Biology | University of Pennsylvania)

Christopher Halbrook, PhD (Assistant Professor | University of California Irvine)

Kathleen DelGiorno (Assistant Professor | Vanderbilt University)

The National Cancer Institute is a reliable source for basic information about pancreatic cancer and treatment. It is an excellent place to begin your research on the disease.

You can find information on the National Cancer Institute’s website, cancer.org.

Cancer Types – Pancreatic Cancer gives specific information on pancreatic cancer, including a overview of the disease, treatment options, a listing of drug and clinical trials as well as details on causes and prevention, screening protocols, and resources for coping with the disease.

There are two major types of pancreatic cancer; Adenocarcinoma (95% of the cases) & Neuroendocrine (5% of cases).

The National Institutes of Health is an agency of the federal government that was created by Congress in 1937. It conducts, coordinates and promotes research on the causes, diagnoses, treatment and prevention of cancer. It funds research at leading public and private institutions and draws expertise from researchers in the United States and abroad.

Finding a doctor

Because we are located in southeast Michigan, we are well acquainted with a number of leading health providers that serve patients in the region and beyond. We recommend the Henry Ford Health, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and the University of Michigan. For help identifying doctors elsewhere, you may wish to turn to:

The American Society of Clinical Oncology, an association of 40,000 cancer doctors in the United States, maintains the website cancer.net.

This website has detailed information on pancreatic cancer overall and will help you locate a doctor in your area.

In addition, it provides an in-depth list of questions to ask when you meet with your doctor. That information can be found on the page, Pancreatic Cancer: Questions to ask the doctor and includes the following:

• Questions to ask after getting a diagnosis
• Questions to ask about choosing a treatment and managing side effects
• Questions to ask about having surgery
• Questions to ask about having radiation therapy
• Questions to ask about have chemotherapy
• Questions to ask about planning for follow up

Identifying an advocate

We urge all patients to identify an advocate who can help ask  questions and process the answers. This is an overwhelming situation and another listener can be critical to capturing the information every patient and family needs. Choose a family member or friend who can go to appointments, take notes and recounts conversations with doctors.

The Sky Foundation offers the information above to help you navigate the health care system and find the doctor, treatment and support you need as you battle the disease. This is by no means a complete list; we offer it with the hope that it may be useful to you or your loved ones. Our mission is to raise awareness and fund medical research for the early detection, prevention and treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Financial support for medical research

Donations that are made to Sky Foundation are awarded as grants to scientists and clinicians who submit applications  that are reviewed and recommended for funding by our experts, the Scientific Advisory Committee.

We award seed-money grants – starting at $50,000 – to provide the essential funds needed by researchers to develop their projects to the point where they can compete and secure major funding from the National Institutes of Health and other national funding sources. Listen to firsthand testimony from our researchers on the impact of Sky seed grants at “Stars in our Sky“.

If you are interested in making a planned gift (a legacy gift, a appreciated stock or a mutual fund), please click here for more information. Call Sky Foundation at 248.385.5143 or email EKasselman@SkyFoundationInc.org with questions.

Attend an event

We host several  events each year, including Sky Movement, Pickleball, Doc-tail, and our largest event in November, Sky Gala. All fundraisers are designed to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer, the risk factors, the importance of genetic counseling, and updates from researchers working on the early detection, prevention and treatment of the disease. Proceeds from the events become seed-money grants to advance promising research.

Committee Involvement

Volunteering your time is another way to advance the mission of Sky Foundation.  There are several ways to volunteer. The Fundraising Committee is one way to build a relationship with others and help plan events throughout the year.  Ann Arbor Art Fair or other individual events offer volunteer opportunities. To learn more, contact Annie Dalton at ADalton@skyfoundationinc.org; or call 248-385-5143

Sponsor special events

Partner with Sky for one or all of Sky’s fundraisers. There are several levels of sponsorship. If you are interested, contact Annie (ADalton@SkyFoundationInc.org) for more information.

Companies frequently have matching gift opportunities – consider submitting a Matching Gift request and double your donation.

Matching Gift and Volunteer Grant information provided by

Contact Person for Matching Gifts at Sky Foundation:

Annie Dalton, ADalton@SkyFoundationInc.org, 248-385-5143